Authenticity
Recently I saw the trailer for the upcoming movie “300” about the Spartan and Persian battle at Thermopylae in 480 BC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDiUG52ZyHQ
Like any other historical movie (or non-historical movie, really), the movie spends considerable effort on certain aspects of filming to create an illusion of realism while ignoring other aspects of realism.
For instance, clearly a massive amount of time, money and effort was spent on sets and costumes to make the characters look “authentically” Spartan or Persian. Additionally, the actors have clearly spent hours and hours working out to make themselves look athletic. Some actors probably put in extra effort to read about their roles to learn about the mindset of an ancient soldier. In the end, it produces a pretty rad lookin’ movie that feels “authentic.”
Oddly, audiences care about certain aspects of realism and yet they let others slide. Obviously, the Spartans and Persians didn’t speak English and I am sure certain aspects of the story are changed. This is all for practicality, though. For pacing and communication, it is understandable that these changes are made just as its understandable that science fiction movies have sound in space to create excitement.
Still, it is funny that movies never focus on other aspects of authenticity that would be easy to include. It is doubtful that any Spartan or Persian had such nice teeth. It is doubtful they had waxed chests or bulging pectoral muscles, which are fairly useless athletically. None of them were probably over 5’ 8” and few looked like models. Audiences allow for these kinds of anachronisms, but if a single Spartan were wearing glasses, we would scoff.
When actors did their research, none probably went on a strict diet of millet or drank watered down wine. They probably didn’t look into rickets, malaria or any of the other diseases that were part of every day life. Few probably even considered that their character was illiterate with twelve dead siblings.
Yet, the audience allows certain mistakes because the rest feels authentic. It is like a fancy Chinese or Indian restaurant. We have a broad idea of what our own culture is and what we are presented seems as if it is not of our culture. We know that, logically, there is nothing of such high quality in that foreign country, but we ignore that. Few really want truly authentic foreign food- it probably tastes bad and one might get sick. And I suppose no one really wants to look at ugly, toothless, sickly, short Spartans and Persians either, despite that being truly authentic.
In the end, most people are comfortable with their own time and their own culture. People like eating fake Chinese food and fake Indian food that is really American food, but feels like foreign food. People like watching fake history with modern players that is a modern movie, but feels like its historical.
Like any other historical movie (or non-historical movie, really), the movie spends considerable effort on certain aspects of filming to create an illusion of realism while ignoring other aspects of realism.
For instance, clearly a massive amount of time, money and effort was spent on sets and costumes to make the characters look “authentically” Spartan or Persian. Additionally, the actors have clearly spent hours and hours working out to make themselves look athletic. Some actors probably put in extra effort to read about their roles to learn about the mindset of an ancient soldier. In the end, it produces a pretty rad lookin’ movie that feels “authentic.”
Oddly, audiences care about certain aspects of realism and yet they let others slide. Obviously, the Spartans and Persians didn’t speak English and I am sure certain aspects of the story are changed. This is all for practicality, though. For pacing and communication, it is understandable that these changes are made just as its understandable that science fiction movies have sound in space to create excitement.
Still, it is funny that movies never focus on other aspects of authenticity that would be easy to include. It is doubtful that any Spartan or Persian had such nice teeth. It is doubtful they had waxed chests or bulging pectoral muscles, which are fairly useless athletically. None of them were probably over 5’ 8” and few looked like models. Audiences allow for these kinds of anachronisms, but if a single Spartan were wearing glasses, we would scoff.
When actors did their research, none probably went on a strict diet of millet or drank watered down wine. They probably didn’t look into rickets, malaria or any of the other diseases that were part of every day life. Few probably even considered that their character was illiterate with twelve dead siblings.
Yet, the audience allows certain mistakes because the rest feels authentic. It is like a fancy Chinese or Indian restaurant. We have a broad idea of what our own culture is and what we are presented seems as if it is not of our culture. We know that, logically, there is nothing of such high quality in that foreign country, but we ignore that. Few really want truly authentic foreign food- it probably tastes bad and one might get sick. And I suppose no one really wants to look at ugly, toothless, sickly, short Spartans and Persians either, despite that being truly authentic.
In the end, most people are comfortable with their own time and their own culture. People like eating fake Chinese food and fake Indian food that is really American food, but feels like foreign food. People like watching fake history with modern players that is a modern movie, but feels like its historical.
posted by American Dilettante at
5:19 PM
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